Dutch short track star Jens van 't Wout has a gold tooth and now has 2 gold medals at the Olympics

MILAN (AP) — Dutch short track speedskating star Jens van ’t Wout can taste victory.

Van 't Wout, who has a gold tooth because of a skating accident seven years ago, won his second Olympic gold medal on Saturday night.

His victory in the 1,500 meters came two days after he topped the podium in the 1,000 at the Milan Cortina Games.

“Getting the golden tooth for me was a special moment, because after my accident I did have a little bit of time to decide if I dared to continue with the sport,” he said of the collision that knocked out two teeth and left him with a scar on his right cheek.

“Now, getting these gold medals and having a golden tooth, it’s just a nice connection.”

South Korea’s Daeheon Hwang took the silver medal and Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia was third for bronze as Canadian short track star William Dandjinou had to settle for fifth.

Van ’t Wout raised his arms after crossing the line in 2 minutes, 12.219 seconds and immediately skated over to a sea of orange-clad teammates and family members to share hugs at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

Hwang, the gold medalist in the 2022 Beijing Games, finished in 2:12.304.

The results were held up for several minutes for a penalty review that didn’t change the podium.

The 24-year-old van ’t Wout said he came into these Games not particularly confident because he didn't have a great season.

“I'm super, super pumped. I always dreamed to become an Olympic champion, but I never thought in my mind that I could win two distances,” he said.

Because of penalties in the semifinals, three skaters were advanced to the final. That meant a crowded field of nine, instead of the usual seven. At a teammate's urging, van ’t Wout watched a video of the 2022 Beijing final that Hwang won — it was also crowded.

“I tried to maybe copy his tactic a little bit — stay in the front. I have no idea how it worked but it worked. That's the beauty of short track,” he said.

Canada, still in search of its first gold medal of these Games, had high hopes for Dandjinou, who made a brief pledge after his disappointing final.

“I only have one thing to say — one day I will be an Olympic champion,” he said. “Mark my words.”

Dandjinou, the reigning 1,500 meters world champion, also didn’t get on the podium in the 1,000 meters.

Van ’t Wout said he felt bad he couldn't spend more time with his girlfriend on Valentine's Day.

Alas, there was a gold medal to win.

“I gave some flowers to my girlfriend, but I couldn't do much, and I'm pretty sure it's almost (midnight), so I think it was probably the worst Valentine's Day for her.”

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Gold medalist Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands jumps on the podium to receive his medal after the short track speed skating men's 1500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

From left to right, silver medalist Hwang Daeheon of South Korea, gold medalist Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands and bronze medalist Roberts Kruzbergs of Latvia receive their medals after the short track speed skating men's 1500m at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands leads in the quarterfinals during the men's 1500 meter short track speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Gold medalist Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands celebrates after the short track speed skating men's 1500m final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Gold medalist Jens van 't Wout of the Netherlands celebrates after the short track speed skating men's 1500m final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

ISTANBUL (AP) — A Turkish court on Thursday issued a ruling that effectively removed the head of the country’s main opposition party by annulling a 2023 congress that elected him.

The move deals a serious blow to the beleaguered Republican People’s Party, or CHP, as it struggles under waves of legal cases targeting its members and elected officials.

An appeals court in Turkey’s capital Ankara declared the CHP congress that picked Ozgur Ozel as chairman to be null, ordering that he should be replaced by his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Last year, a lower court ruled against claims of irregularities and misconduct surrounding Ozel’s election but Thursday’s decision overturned the original verdict.

The ruling led to frantic meetings at the CHP’s Ankara headquarters, further threatening the opposition’s chances of unseating President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after more than two decades in office. Large crowds gathered outside the office block and police erected barriers.

The next presidential election is due in 2028 but Erdogan can call for an early vote. His main challenger, the CHP mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, has been imprisoned since March last year and is currently on trial on corruption charges.

The appeals court's decision suspends Ozel and members of the party’s executive board from their duties. They will be “provisionally” replaced by Kilicdaroglu and those who held office before the November 2023 congress.

In comments to broadcaster TV100, Kilicdaroglu called for party members to remain calm. “Our party is a very large party and it will solve its own problems internally,” he said. The 77-year-old was removed following a 13-year tenure as leader, during which the CHP failed to win any national elections.

Ozel, meanwhile, attempted to rally supporters.

“I am not promising you a path to power through a rose garden,” he posted on X following the ruling. “I am promising you the ability to endure suffering but never surrender. I am promising you honor, dignity, courage and struggle!”

The CHP is expected to challenge Thursday’s ruling in the Supreme Court in the coming days.

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek, who oversaw several cases against the CHP in his former role as Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, described the court’s ruling as one that “reinforces our citizens’ trust in democracy.”

Many observers have said that the legal cases against the CHP — mostly centered on corruption allegations — are politically motivated and aimed at neutralizing the party ahead of the next election. The government, however, insists that Turkey’s courts are impartial and act independently of political pressure.

Erdogan has ruled Turkey, first as prime minister and then as president, since 2003. His electoral record suffered a serious blow in 2019 when the CHP seized control of several major cities in local elections. In Istanbul, Imamoglu emerged as a popular and charismatic figure that many felt could successfully topple Erdogan.

FILE - Republican People's Party or (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel gestures to party members during his speech during a CHP convention, in Ankara, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ali Unal, File)

FILE - Turkish CHP party leader and Nation Alliance's presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu, center, joins legislators elected to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey as they attend their first parliamentary session, in Ankara, Turkey, June 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Ali Unal, File)